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Combating climate change

EU Fact Sheets 14-12-2023

The European Union is among the leading major economies when it comes to tackling greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In 2020, EU GHG emissions were down by 31% from 1990 levels, their lowest level in 30 years, exceeding the EU’s Kyoto Protocol target of reducing emissions by 20% by 2020. In 2019, the Commission presented the European Green Deal and is now proposing a set of measures aimed at increasing the EU’s GHG emission reduction ambition to 55% by 2030 and decarbonising the EU’s economy by 2050 ...

Sustainable consumption and production

EU Fact Sheets 14-12-2023

Sustainable growth is one of the main objectives of the European Union (EU). In a period of rapid climate change and growing demand for energy and resources, the EU has introduced a range of policies and initiatives aimed at sustainable consumption and production. Under the European Green Deal and, in particular, the circular economy action plan, a sustainable product policy legislative initiative was announced to make products fit for a climate-neutral, resource-efficient and circular economy.

Chemicals and pesticides

EU Fact Sheets 08-12-2023

EU chemicals and pesticides legislation aims to protect human health and the environment, as well as to prevent barriers to trade. It consists of rules governing the marketing and use of particular categories of chemical products, a set of harmonised restrictions on the placing on the market and use of hazardous substances, and protocols for handling major accidents and exports of dangerous substances. The two most important achievements at EU level are the CLP Regulation (classification, labelling ...

Past and current patterns of resource use have led to high pollution levels, environmental degradation and the depletion of natural resources. EU waste policy has traditionally focused on environmentally sustainable waste management. The Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe and the Circular Economy Package aim to transform the EU’s economy into a sustainable one by 2050. Under the European Green Deal, the Circular Economy Action Plan provides a future-oriented agenda for a cleaner and more competitive ...

Biodiversity, land use and forestry

EU Fact Sheets 05-12-2023

The EU has played an important role at international level in seeking solutions to biodiversity loss, deforestation and climate change. The 1992 UN Conference on the Environment and Development marked a major step forward with the adoption of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change notes the importance of ensuring the integrity of all ecosystems and the protection of biodiversity. As part of the European Green Deal, the Commission proposed a new biodiversity ...

The Executive Vice-President of the Commission, Maroš Šefčovič, appeared before the European Parliament on 3 October 2023 to answer questions put by MEPs from the Committees on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI); Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE); Transport and Tourism (TRAN) and Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI). During the hearing, he made a number of commitments which are highlighted in this document. These commitments refer to his portfolio, as described in the mission ...

The Commissioner-designate, Wopke Hoekstra, appeared before the European Parliament on 2 October 2023 to answer questions put by MEPs from the Committees on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), Foreign Affairs (AFET), Development (DEVE) and Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). During the hearing, he made a number of commitments which are highlighted in this document. These commitments refer to his portfolio, as described in the mission letter sent to him by Ursula von der Leyen ...

The European Parliament, the Council and the European Commission have committed to listen to Europeans and to follow up, within their sphere of competences, on the recommendations made. In this framework, four European Citizens’ Panels have been organized to allow citizens to jointly think about the future they want for the European Union • Panel 1 - "Stronger economy, social justice, jobs, education, culture, sport, digital transformation" • Panel 2 - "EU democracy, values, rights, rule of law ...

As part of the Conference on the Future of Europe, 800 citizens debated their ideas for the European Union in four thematic panels. The citizens involved in Panel 4 considered the possibilities for two related themes: the EU in the world and migration. This publication presents their recommendations, as well as a selection of related European Parliament resolutions and EU legislation, funding programmes and other activities. These background elements are not exhaustive, but have been selected to ...

The study analyses the European Parliament’s (EP) carbon footprint in the context of the recent EP resolutions, in which it declared a climate emergency in Europe and requested the development of a strategy to become itself carbon-neutral by 2030. The analysis takes into account the various sources contributing to the EP’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including those related to its function in three different sites and the traveling of its Members and staff. This document was prepared by the Policy ...